Post by Thoda Kro/Crowstar on Jun 5, 2016 3:48:22 GMT
BIRTHING CEREMONY
Optional and up to the queen, this is when the clan will come in shortly after the birth of her kids to touch noses with them, perhaps wish them or the mother good luck before leaving them be. Some cats may bring gifts like berries, prey and things of the like for the mother or her kits in the future.
APPRENTICE CEREMONY
The apprentice ceremony is held differently, and occurs during the morning once every full moons.
When the time is right the clan will gather, and any kits aged six moons or older will stand before the leader. The leader will explain what kind of training they will need to complete, though how it will be all worth it once they've reached warriorhood.. how they'll need to follow the code, the rather strict code, and other things of the like. After explaining, he or she will ask if they are prepared for this.
Yes should always be the answer from the gathered apprentices.
The leader will then assign each gathered apprentice to a mentor. Mentors may have multiple apprentices, the Shearwaters believe that this will improve training by offering partners, but also ideas of competition. Often times, different mentors will be skilled at different things. The leader will assign an apprentice to whatever mentor they are best suited for. For instance, a sleek furred yet sturdy little apprentice may be assigned to a mentor who is skillful in swimming. A fluffy, lithe apprentice may be assigned to a mentor more built for the art of climbing. Smaller, more timid cats may be assigned a harsh mentor to toughen them up- you get the point.
A mentor and their set of apprentices is known as a "sway", and these sways may often compete against each other in the midst of their training.
After each apprentice is assigned a mentor, they may go learn of the territory and perhaps even have their first training session.
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE CEREMONY
Warriorhood can't be for every apprentice. Some apprentices may realize their true calling. A medicine cat should also always try to find an apprentice a couple moons into their new rank.
The apprentice will have to approach and request to train under the medicine cat, the medicine cat hopefully saying yes.
If they do, then the medicine cat and their new apprentice will step before the leader in a clan gathering.
The leader will ask them if this is the responsibility and path they wish to take. The apprentice will agree, and be named officially the medicine cat apprentice before the entire clan.
The first training session may then begin.
MEDICINE CAT CEREMONY
If the previous medicine cat has died or retired, their apprentice shall take their place. A meeting is held by the leader and clan.
"(Medicine cat name)" the leader will begin, "Shearwater is a dangerous place to live, given our history. With (previous med's name)'s saddening death/retirement, we will need a new healer to tend to us. Do you swear, to not only me, but to your loved ones and the Clan of Shearwater as a whole, that you shall follow the code, mend the sickly, tend to the wounded, and help birth our future youth?"
Hopefully, the medicine cat will say yes.
"Then I, ___star, give you your medicine cat name. (New name, often times having to do with plants, herbs, or nature in general). We welcome you as our new medicine cat, and wish you luck in your duties."
The name is chanted, and the ceremony shall end.
WARRIOR CEREMONY/THE HUNT
Before the warrior ceremony may take place, it is time for the one, the only; The Hunt.
The apprentices who have trained for these past few moons (often a good 7-10) will have to do a final assessment without the help of their mentors.
They will have to catch either a bird, a weasel, or a fish.
They may use any sort of means to catch it that they have already been taught by their mentors, but be weary; there will be competition against other apprentices to catch the prey. Some apprentices may be hunting the same animal.
As an added challenge, it takes place only during the evening hours, and ends at dawn. Their ceremony is delayed a moon if they fail.
After their animal is caught, they shall return to camp with it, awaiting dawn when their ceremony will be held.
After the hunt has ended and dawn begins, the ceremony ensues. As always, the clan is called upon to gather by the leader.
The prey from the hunt is presented by each apprentice, before the leader.
The leader speaks.
"(names of apprentices), you have completed the hunt and have fought and trained well under (mentor name)'s sway. It is time to gain full acceptance as a Shearwater... do you swear, to not only me, but your family, your mentor, and the clan itself that you shall follow the warrior code, remain within Shearwater's reaches, and protect your clan, even at the cost of your own life?"
Hopefully, the apprentices agree, saying something like "I do" or simply "yes"
The leader continues.
"Then I, ___star, grant you your warrior names."
There is one final important part that the clan does after names are granted; this is when the new warriors will tear apart their prey and pick a piece off of it to wear behind their ear- this shows their warriorhood. They can wear the ribs of the fish, the tail of the weasel, or the feathers of the bird.
The clan may chant the names, then they are dismissed, and can celebrate their new warriors however they please.
ELDERS CEREMONY
This occurs when a cat becomes too incapacitated to fulfill their duties or they have grown old and wish to die a peaceful death.
Elders simply lurk around camp, telling stories to kits and occasionally, if healthy enough, helping the medicine cats and queens.
The leader will either tell the former warrior they can no longer serve the clan, or the elder will approach the leader themselves and ask to be named an elder. Either way, a meeting is held.
"(warrior name), you have served our clan for long and hard, and both I and the forest of Shearwater thank you greatly. But everyone's warrior reign must end one day, and it is time to join the rest of the elders within the den..."
The leader will go quiet and let the elder speak. Perhaps they wish to say something to their clan before retiring, it is completely optional. The ceremony proceeds.
The leader can rename the elder if their warrior name no longer fits or the elder has requested a new name. If they aren't quickly renamed, then the leader will simply dip his or her head. The rest of the clan will follow, dipping their heads to the new elder, who will now make their way to the elder's den.
The ceremony ends once they are in the den.
THE LEADER'S APPRENTICES
The clan doesn't have a deputy exactly. Instead, they do something very... interesting to ensure the Shearwaters have the best possible leader.
A new leader must pick their apprentices- yes, there is two of them- very quickly into their new rank. These apprentices must be between 7-11 moons of age, hand picked by the leader to train and serve under them until death or retirement.
Often times, these apprentices will be forced into their ranking, but the leader might pick one who asks for the rank.
Now comes the challenging, kind of cruel part- these two apprentices train competitively under the leader. Once the leader passes or retires, the two apprentices will have to fight. The loser will become a normal warrior as if their training never meant anything, the winner is the next leader.
(OOC note: People will get to vote in a poll who wins the fight and who loses. If you aren't okay with losing, it's best to not audition for leader's apprentices.)
PART 1: THE CHOOSING CEREMONY
The leader will call a meeting. He or she will then pick the two apprentices they wish to train under them from the crowd.
"__paw and ___paw. I will not live forever, and I will not be fit to lead forever. Our clan will need a new leader someday, and it is my duty to make sure I leave our clan with it's best option. You two shall train under me, until the time comes for the next leader to be chosen."
The apprentices will simply nod and come to their leaders side. The rest of the clan dips their head in respect, and the ceremony ends.
PART 2: THE BATTLE
If the leader has died, the ceremony will be immediately held by the medicine cat. If the leader is simply retiring, then the ceremony is held by them.
A meeting is called beneath the high rock, the two former leader apprentices in the center, the rest of the clan keeping their distance as this is where they will fight.
"(app name) and (app name), you have trained long and hard under ___star to get where you are now. But alas, there is only one leader suitable for our clan, and it is time for him/her to rise before us. Remember to spare your partner and remember that regardless of outcome, you shall always be clanmates."
The two apprentices will dip their heads to each other, and the medicine cat or leader will yell "begin!"
The battle will end when either one of them can no longer fight due to injury, or one says "I give."
The winner shall declare themselves ___star, and the loser is named by the new leader with a warrior name.
The new leader claims the ancient hawk feathers, essentially a crown that leaders sport and have for generations, to show their new ranking.
MATE CEREMONY
Can be held by a medicine cat if the leader is being mated.
Also, the cats can of course be different genders, you'll just have to decide who's wearing the flowers and who's waiting at the end of the row.
The clan gathers in two mostly equally divided lines, with a row for the she cat to walk down. Her fur is likely decorated in flowers and such that kits may have given to her. She meets her mate who stands at the end, and rubs noses with him.
"(cat name) and (cat name), our clan gathers here in celebration of your love. Fate has brought you together, and faith shall keep you together... before we proceed, is there anything either of you would like to say?" (At this point, either of the cats may say something to the other, taking turns if they both wish to speak.)
The ceremony proceeds. "Now, (cat #1 name), do you promise to stay loyal and protect your mate, 'till death do you apart?"
Hopefully they'll say yes, really awkward if they don't.
"And (cat #2 name), do you also swear to stay loyal and protect your mate, until death do you apart?"
Hopefully they'll also say yes.
"Then I, ___star, as well as the clan of Shearwater, name you mates, and wish the both of you luck and protection."